Swimming Lessons

are over for us for this summer...  :-(  Colton has never been real fond of playing in the pool, unless he can touch.  I would even say he was borderline 'afraid' of the water... So, I wanted to get him in swimming lessons this summer hoping that he would end up loving the water...  Our friend Whitlea has been helping Colton out with his swimming skills over the last couple of weeks.  And while I still wouldn't say he can 'swim', he is definitely enjoying the pool a LOT more these days!

Yes, that is Colton JUMPING in!

 'Swimming'...well, he moves his arms and legs anyway...it's a start!

 Blowing bubbles...

 Back floating...this one was a doozy!  Still not super comfortable with it, but nevertheless willing to try!

 Jumping in like Superman!

 Even went down the slide!  With some help from Whitlea's mom who helped him halfway down to where he could slide off the end into Whitlea's arms...even so...HUGE improvement!

 She even got him to go underwater on more than one occasion!  For my kid who HATES water on his face (like his mother) this is BIG!

 Now, if only he would remember to hold his nose all the way under the water and back up, he might not look so miserable when he comes up!  Still really awesome!

Whitlea has patience like no one I know.  She let Colton run the show, but still managed to get him to teach him a lot of new things in the water.  I'm hoping to keep taking him swimming some this summer, and hope he can work with her again next year!

Jace

has been spending a lot of time at our house this summer while his parents are working hard getting his new house ready to move in! Colton & Kyler LOVE having someone else to play with!  They all get along really well, and I've found that having three kids in the house is not much worse than my regular two...  :)

Jace poses while eating a snack

 Kyler also poses while eating snacks...looks like Oreos to me!

 Colton LOVES to help feed Jace & Kyler...he's getting very good at keeping them

entertained and out of trouble!

 This tent is STILL a huge hit in our house!  Not really sitting the way it's supposed to,

but they make it work

 Yes, that is Colton & Jace having a man-to-man talk on the Princess couch

Jace is even getting the hang of our nightly 'rodeo' with Derek!

Oh the fun! Jace, can't wait to send Colton & Kyler to come play at your house!  :)

Boating

So we went to Perry with Papa and Grandma (aka Kent and Barb) on their boat.  The kids LOVED it!  They are definitely boaters, but are still not too sure about being in the water with their lifejackets.  The more they do it, the more they love it!  We all had a great time!

Kyler and Jayger with Derek for their very first boat ride!

Kids and Derek (shhh!) cheesin' for my camera when we got home!

Colton swimming (holding on for dear life) with Uncle Blaine and Taylea.  Our friend Gracie (the little blonde) is not a bit afraid of the water!

Colton was helping Papa drive...but quickly fell asleep after a LONG day!

We had a great day and I hope we can go again before the end of the summer!

The Laundry Chute...

is for LAUNDRY, right??? WRONG!!! This is one of my kids' FAVORITE places to play!!

Where's Colton?

There he is!

Where's Kyler?



HERE she is!

Pretty sure at this point, Colton was upstairs talking down the laundry chute to Kyler...

 Colton posing for a picture...

The only thing you don't see here is the pile of towels they pulled out so they could play in here...but you didn't want to see that anyway!

A Conversation with Kyler...

Kyler likes to talk...  A LOT.  Only problem is we can't quite understand her yet.  She's getting a few words here and there, but mostly, it sounds like this...

*If anyone knows what she's talking about, could you PLEASE let us know!!!

Randomness

So, I have seriously slacked off on the bloggin lately... We have been spending more time outside than in, and when we are inside, I always have one kid attached to my hip, and they are not very helpful yet with the computer, so... my apologies. I will try to do better! Anyway, here are some old/new pics! Enjoy!

Derek and the kids with his turkey!

Kyler and Jace at the Easter Egg Hunt at Denton.  They weren't too interested.... :)

Colton is finally 'getting it' this year!  He had quite the stash of candy!

Derek & Colton at the 'Kids Table' at Easter lunch at Kent & Barb's house.

Taylea, Colton and Brynna before they went on their Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Luedke's

Graduation at K-State!  Aunt Melissa is somewhere down there!  What a day, but well worth it!  CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!

Work Hard..Play Harder

This month, with the nicer weather, we have definitely been working a LOT!  The kids and I even made it to the field to take lunch to the guys one Saturday...

Nothing like lunch on the back of a pickup truck!

And of course, SOMEBODY wouldn't leave without a ride in the dozer... 

Not sure who was more excited about this...   :)

Checking out the progress...

While Kyler hung out with Uncle Kevin

But we've also played a LOT this month too!

Jace has been over to play...

Aunt 'Issa' came over to play... (Sorry, Melissa, I just had to put it on here...)

We watched what we couldn't help with out the window...

Jace came back to play in our tent

And we played some MORE!!!